Combination pressure regulator and meter



`April -26, 1938.v

o. B. GOLDKAMP 'COMBINATION PRESSURE REGULATOR AND METER Fild oct. 28, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l d 93 j -Asi K I .w llllllllllll llxll/ ,f f d.

f, I, 1, T

:inventor April 26, j1938.

, O. B. GOLDKAMP COMBINATION PRESSURE REGULATOR AND METER Filed Oct. 28, 1935 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y' Smaentol:

Patented Apr. 26, 1938 UNITED sfrArss APATENT OFFICE n Otto B. Goldkamp, San Diego, Calif., assignor of one-half to San Diego Consolidated Gas and Electric Company, San Diego, Calif., a corporation of California Application October 28, 1935, Serial No. 47,068

4 Claims.

My invention relates to a combination pressure regulator and meter, particularly adapted for commercial gas, and the objects of my invention are:4

First, to provide an apparatus of this class which combines with the cap of a conventional Sprague gas meter for domestic or other use a pressure regulator.

Second, to provide an apparatus of this class in which the meter and regulator are so arranged and combined that there is provided a very compact structure of this class.

Third, to provi-de a compact assembly of the necessary units for regulating and measuring the gas for domestic and similar use.

Fourth, to provide a structure of this class which reduces to a minimum the chance for leakage in connection with the regulation and measuring of fluid gas for domestic or similar use.

Fifth, to provide a structure of this class in which it is easy to repair and keep in repair the units for measuring and regulating gas.

Sixth, to provide a combination of this class which is very simple and economical of construction, easy to operate, efficient in its action, and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in View as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters of reference thereon which form a part of this application, in which:

Figure l is a sectional View along the line I-l of Fig. 2 of the complete apparatus showing some of the parts in elevation to facilitate the illustration; Fig. 2 is a sectional View along the line 2 2 of Fig. l and showing other parts further broken away and in section, and showing some of the parts in elevation to facilitate the illustration; Fig. 3 is a sectional View through line 3--3 of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale; Fig. 4 is a detail of the upper portion of the regulator casing shown in section showing the seal for sealing the cap on the regulator casing; Fig. 5 is a 50. sectional View along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1; Fig.

6 is a sectional View along the line 6 6 of Fig. l; Fig. l is a sectional View along the line '1 -'l of Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a modied form of regulator valve to that shown in Fig. 1

5,5, of thedrawings showing some of the parts in (Cl. '7B-199) elevation to facilitate the illustration; Fig. 9 is another similar View of another modied form of regulator valve; Fig. 10 is a sectional view along the line Ill-I0 of Fig. 8; Fig. 11 is a sectional View along the line II-II of Fig. 9, Fig. 12 is another similar View of another modified form of regulator valve, Fig. 13 is a sectional vieW on the line I3-I3 of Fig. 12, and Fig. 14 a sectional view on the line I4-I4 of Fig. 12.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawings.

The meter cap member I, regulator casing member 2, regulator diaphragm 3, regulator diaphragm top plate 4, regulator diaphragm bottom plate 5, regulator lever 6, regulator locking stem '1, regulator spring 8, regulator spring adjusting nut 9, regulator casing member cap IIJ, regulator lever guide II, Valve plunger I2, valve plunger guide I3, valve support I4, valve member I5, valve seat member I6, inlet conductor support El, inlet conductor I8, dust trap I9, and dust trap support 20 constitute the principal parts and portions of my combination pressure regulator, uid cleaner and meter.

The meter is of the conventional Sprague type and the cap I is a conventional Sprague meter cap and is secured thereon by means of screws in the holes la or other means of forming a tight joint between the meter and cap I. This cap I is provided at one side with a iiuid inlet portion consisting of an upwardly extended threaded portion Ib. This inl-et member is provided with an inwardly extending shoulder portion Ic below which is formed a chamber Id, the lower wall of which is provided with orifice Ie. Positioned on the opposite side of the meter cap I from the inlet portion Ib is an outlet portion if, and centrally in the upper side of the casing between the inlet and the outlet portions is a large opening Ig. extending past the sides thereof is a regulator diaphragm 3, which is supported at its periphery by means of the regulator casing member E shown best in Figure l of the drawings. This diaphragm 3 is supported centrally at its upper Side. by means of diaphragm top plate 4, which is provided on its upper side with an upwardly extending lug portion 4a around which the lower end of the spring B is positioned. This plate 4 also supports the regulator locking stem I at its lower end as shown best in Figure l of the drawings, the lower end of the stem I being screwthreaded into the plate 4 and there is provided Over this opening Ig and I as shown best in Figures 1 and '7 of the drawings,l

in which slot is pivotally mounted theY one end of the regulator lever 6V supported by'means of a pin'd therein. This lever 6 is shown best in Figure 1 of the drawingsprovided with a downwardly extending portion 6a and a substantially Y* horizontal portion 6b and the'extended end is provided with an enlarged spherical'portion 6c which is positioned inV a lever guide I I which g is a hollow cylindrical member provided with external' threads at Yone end which are screwthreaded into the one side of the cap member l Yanclextends outwardly therefrom, as shown best .inFigure 1 of the drawings. I

l f .The guide I I isV provided'with a small bore YI Ia i Ywhich provides a ,clearance Yfit vfor the spherical portion Iicof the lever 6, and is also provided with Y ian enlarged bore IIb to provide clearance for slight shifting ofthe :lever at its guidedend.

. The regulator casing member 2 is provided with a diaphragm portion .2a at itsv lower end and with` a reduced cylindrical Vportion 2b which extends upwardly therefrom and is`also provided in one side with an air vent 2c to equalize the air pressureas it is open toatmospheric pressure. Casingm'ember 2 is screw'ethreaded both internally and externally at its upper end, and it is adapted tofreceivel a capY Ill which is screwed thereon. This cap memberrIB is provided with Van extend-V ing perforated lug Ia and the casingl alsoY provided with an extendingvperforated lugV Zd'which are adapted toY receive a seal Illb as shown best in Figure lofrthe drawings, thus Aproviding means for sealing'the cap member in positiorion'Y the casinggZ- so that'it canrb'e determined whether or not said cap has been removedby unauthorized persons.' Screw-threaded in the internal threads y.of the casing 271s theregulator spring adjusting nut 9 which is provided with Va. downwardly extending lug Sa'aroufnd which the upper end of the regulator spring 8 ispositoned. This adjust- 3 ing nut' Sis also-provided with a central orifice 9b through whichthe upperrend of Vthe sternv 'IV exe tends,V as showri'best in Figure l of the drawings.

...The upper end ofthis stem 'l is'screw-threaded and mounted thereon is a nutII` which is adapted to 'be set down against the nut 9 as'shownY in Fig- Y ure 4 of the-drawings for'locking' the apparatus so that the uid cannot pass Vthrough the meter, and when the'cap is positioned thereonand sealed Yasv shown lin Figure .4 of the drawingsthermeterf G0:

Ytampering ofy the same if the seal is broken.

is inoperative, and'wouldshow any unauthorized Mounted Vinthe chamber Idgand supported on shoulders Ylc is lthe vvalve plunger guide i3 in which' Visl reciprocably mounted the valvefplunger l I2. V'I'his` valve plunger I2 extends downwardly through'the orice 'Ie in the cap I and is provided Vwitha downwardly extending lugA I2a on itsY lower end which is `bifurcated-V and' adapted to receive the horizontal portion 6b ofthe lever E all as shown best in Figures lY and 5 of the'rdrawings,

YandV held thereon byfmeansof a Vpin I2b. The Y portion I'2a vis provided vwith-Ya curvedVV surface which providesaV pivot engagement with the leverj Sf'as" shown best in Figure 1 of the drawings.

slightly reciprocated with the operationfof the diaphragm 3 which operates the lever 6 supported in the guide II. The valve plunger I2 Ais provided with a threaded hole I2c in its upper end in which Y is supported the valve support I4, whichis provided with a recess in its upper side in which is mounted the Yvalve'member I5 Vupon fwhich is seated theY annular seat IEaV of the valve seat member I6. This valve seatrmember I6 is secured',

in the upper portion of the inlet member' Ib of the cap I and supported on the upper end of thev guide I 3l therein so that theupper edge of the Ymember I5 is flush with the upper edge of the.

member Ib as shown best in Figure 1 of the drawings. Y members Ib and I6 is a gasket member Har, and on this gasket member Ila is mounted the inlet conductor support Il, which is provided withran Aoutwardly extending flange I'Ib, over which a nutI'Ic is screw-threaded on the upper end of the member Ibthus supporting the member I'I Arelative to the member I6 and forming Ya tight Mounted on Vthefupper ends of theV join therebetween by means of the gasket I'Ia, andalso a tight join'between said members and the nutV I'Ic. Mounted in the member II is the fluid inlet conductor I8 which is screw-threaded therein as shown best in Figure 1 of the drawings. Y Y

Mounted on the inside ofthe member I 'I is a dust trap support 20 which'is screw-threaded onto an externally extended upwardly extending flange portion of the member I6, and mounted-in this support 2E and extending upwardly there-KV from is a dust trap I9 in cylindrical form withr closed end, formed of gauze or other-"suitable material for trappingthe dust from the fluidand preventing it entering the valve and'mete'r. lThe member I6 is provided with an orifice IIb` through which the fluid passes from the dust trap I9 past the valve seat IBa,.valve I5,Y and orice Ie` into .f

the meter cap I, where the pressure is regulated by means of the diaphragm 3 through the Vlever- 6 which controls thevalverwhich regulates the inlet-flow of the iluid.'rw

In the modified form of valve construction as l shown in Figures 8 and y10 ofthe drawings, the

valve assembly is the same as that shown'in Figure 1 except that instead of the valve support I4 there is provided a valve member 2|, which is provided .with an annular vfeather-edge valvella',`

Vand the member 22 is provided with a downwardly Yextended externally threaded portion 22a upon which is Vmounted an annularly iiang'ed nut 22h member 22o is mounted akvalve seatY memberYV 2'73 which is adapted to be engaged by the'- valve 2`l with the reciprocation of the plunger" I2.

' and between the member 22a and flange on the4V In'the modified form of valve assembly shown in Figures 9 and 11, the structure is the sameexe; Vcept there is Yprovided ythe plunger 24 slidablyv keyedY in the guide I3 shown best in Alrigll which has a conical valve portionV 24a on its upper end.V

and the portion i2a is screw-threaded'intoth' Vplunger member 2d for 'adjustment instead of inev tegrally connected as in FiguresVv 8 and` 10.."Y And in place'of the memberl 23 there is provided a hanged member 25 thus providing two spaced members 25 and 22h iorf engagement Awith the AVconical portion 2da` of the' member-24 fror'provicl'iV ing Ythe valve seat for Vengagement with sa'id conical valve portion 24a. 1

In the modified form of'valve assembly shown` V in VFigur-es 12, 13, .and l14 the inlet tothe meter" is entirelyf different and omits the dust tre`.p'-.V This Vis designated 26 and is screw-threaded' at" 26a on its outer side for receiving the inlet conductor. In the partition 2Gby is screw-threaded a valve seat member 21 which is hollow for permitting the fluid to pass therethrough. It is provided with a feather-edge seat 21a which is adapted to engage the valve member 28, secured in the upper end of a plunger 29. This plunger 29 is reciprocally mounted in a guide 30 which fits into an orice in the lower side of the chamber member 3|. 'Ihis chamber member 3| is provided with slots 3Ia for permitting the passage of uid to the meter. 'Ihe plunger connection and the regulator lever are the same as that shown in Figure 9 of the drawings except the plunger connection is slightly shorter.

It will be noted that the object of providing modied form and valve seat structure is to provide a valve assembly of efficiency for great variations of pressure dependent upon the use of the apparatus.

It is obvious that with the above described construction there is provided a combination apparatus of this class in which the iiuid admitted to the meter is cleaned of dust and passes through a valve into the meter, that the fluid on entering the meter contacts with other fluid therein and forms a pressure which operates on the diaphragm which communicates directly with the interior of the meter, that any pressure exceeding a predetermined pressure in the meter will operate the diaphragm which in turn will move the lever 6 which will tend to close the inlet valve to the meter and therefore regulate the pressure, that the pressure may be adjusted for predetermined pressure by means of the adjustment of the spring 8 by means of the adjusting nut 9, but if it is desired to stop the use of the gas and meter by removing the cap I [l and turning the nut 1b down against the nut 9 as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, the valve is locked closing the inlet to the meter, and by placing the cap I thereover and sealing the same the usage cannot be continued preventing any unauthorized usage as any unauthorized usage must be by breaking the seal IDb, that the regulator is in direct cooperation with the interior of the meter and that the regulator connects with the inlet valve to the meter therefore providing direct action on the intake to the meter, that the dust trap positioned in close proximity to the inlet valve to the meter and regulating valve provide means for cleansing the fluid as it enters the meter, and also that the cleaned fluid passes through the valves, that the combining of these structures does away with a large number of couplings where they are in separated relation therefore minimizes the leakage.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, and certain modifications thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the particular construction, combination and arrangement, thereof, but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a combination pressure regulator and meter cap, the combination with the readily removable conventional Sprague meter cap with downwardly directed inlet at one side in the cap only and an upwardly directed outlet at the opposite side in the cap only and with a at topV intermediate said inlet and outlet, of an orifice in said flat top, a diaphragm mountedv over said orifice and forming the upper wall of said cap and substantially covering the space between said inlet and said outlet, a Valve mounted in the inlet to said meter cap provided with a downwardly extended stem and a lever connected centrally with said diaphragm and pivotally connected intermediate its ends with the valve stem, a casing secured over the margin of said diaphragm and extending upwardly therefrom, sealed means for adjusting the tension of said diaphragm in said casing, means in connection with said diaphragm and said adjusting means for locking said diaphragm with the valve in closed position, and means in connection with said locking means for detecting any tampering with said locking means.

2. In a combination pressure regulator and meter cap, the combination with a readily removable meter cap with downwardly directed inlet at one side in the cap only and an upwardly directed outlet at the opposite side in the cap only and with a flat top intermediate said inlet and outlet, of an orifice in said flat top, a diaphragm mounted over` said orice and forming the upper wall of said cap and substantially covering the space between said inlet and said outlet, a valve mounted in the inlet to said meter cap provided with a downwardly extended stem and a lever connected centrally with said diaphragm and pivotally connected intermediate its ends with the valve stem, a casing secured over the margin of said diaphragm and extending upwardly therefrom provided with a lug on its exterior, sealed means for adjusting the tension of said diaphragm in said casing, means in connection with said diaphragm and said adjusting means for locking said diaphragm with the valve in closed position, means in connection with said locking means for detecting any tampering with said locking means, said sealed means consisting of a removable cap with an extended lug adapted' to be positioned in close proximity to said lug on said casing for sealing said cap against removal.

3. In a combination pressure regulator and meter cap the combination with a readily removable meter cap with downwardly directed inlet at one side in the cap only and an upwardly directed outlet at the opposite side in the cap only and with a flat top intermediate said inlet and outlet, of an orifice in said flat top, a diaphragm mounted over said orice and forming the upper wall of said cap and substantially covering the space between said inlet and said outlet, a valve mounted in the inlet to said meter cap provided with a downwardly extended stem and a lever connected centrally with said diaphragm and pivotally connected intermediate its ends wlth the valve stem, a casing secured over the margin of said diaphragm and extending upwardly therefrom, and sealed meansrfor adjusting the tension of said diaphragm in said casing.

4. In a combination pressure regulator and meter cap, the combination with a readily removable meter cap with downwardly directed inlet at one side in the cap only and an upwardly directed outlet at the opposite side in the cap only and with a at top intermediate said inlet and outlet, of an orice in said flat top, a diaphragm mounted over said orifice and forming the upper wall of said cap and substantially covphragmV and pivotally connected intermediate its ends with the valve stern, a casing secured over the margin of said diaphragm and extending up- Wardly therefrom,4 sealed lmeans for adjustingA the te'si'i of Said diaphragm in id Casing; and means in connection with siddiaphr'agm and said adjusting rieansfor locking salid diihragin with the valve iri closedv position.`V

Y Voffro B. GOLDKAMP. 

